Some members of the all-Democratic Massachusetts congressional delegation are not attending Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Monday in Washington, D.C. Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Bill Keating all confirmed they would not be attending the ceremonial transfer of power. “I attended President Trump’s first inauguration, and I respect that he won the 2024 election. However, I cannot condone his Inauguration Day promise to pardon those who committed crimes at the Capitol on January 6, 2021,” Keating said in a statement. “My decision to not attend the inauguration is out of respect for the men and women of the Capitol Police who were attacked at the very site of the inauguration itself while protecting Members of Congress and the peaceful transfer of power.”Markey and Pressley said they planned to mark the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in Boston instead. Two other members of the delegation, Rep. Richard Neal and Rep. Stephen Lynch, did not respond to NewsCenter 5’s inquiries about their plans.Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Lori Trahan, Rep. Seth Moulton and Rep. Jake Auchincloss are all expected to attend. Auchincloss told WCVB’s “On The Record” it is an important part of the democratic process for him to attend the inauguration.”I think each of my colleagues is going to pursue their conscience,” Auchincloss said. “Mine tells me that win or lose, what’s most important in the United States and for the sustainment of our democracy, is that we play the rules of the game.”When Trump takes the oath of office at noon, he will realize a political comeback without precedent in American history. Four years ago, he was voted out of the White House during an economic collapse caused by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Trump denied his defeat and tried to cling to power. He directed his supporters to march on the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying the election results, sparking a riot that interrupted the country’s tradition of the peaceful transfer of power.But Trump never lost his grip on the Republican Party and was undeterred by criminal cases and two assassination attempts as he steamrolled rivals and harnessed voters’ exasperation with inflation and illegal immigration.Trump will be the first person convicted of a felony — for falsifying business records related to hush money payments — to serve as president. He will pledge to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution from the same spot that was overrun by his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. He’s said that one of his first acts in office will be to pardon many of those who participated in the riot.Eight years after he first entered the White House as a political newcomer, Trump is far more familiar with the operations of federal government and emboldened to bend it to his vision. Trump wants to bring quick change by curtailing immigration, enacting tariffs on imports and rolling back Democrats’ climate and social initiatives.He has also promised retribution against his political opponents and critics, and placed personal loyalty as a prime qualification for appointments to his administration.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Some members of the all-Democratic Massachusetts congressional delegation are not attending Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Monday in Washington, D.C.
Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Bill Keating all confirmed they would not be attending the ceremonial transfer of power.
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“I attended President Trump’s first inauguration, and I respect that he won the 2024 election. However, I cannot condone his Inauguration Day promise to pardon those who committed crimes at the Capitol on January 6, 2021,” Keating said in a statement. “My decision to not attend the inauguration is out of respect for the men and women of the Capitol Police who were attacked at the very site of the inauguration itself while protecting Members of Congress and the peaceful transfer of power.”
Markey and Pressley said they planned to mark the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in Boston instead.
Two other members of the delegation, Rep. Richard Neal and Rep. Stephen Lynch, did not respond to NewsCenter 5’s inquiries about their plans.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Lori Trahan, Rep. Seth Moulton and Rep. Jake Auchincloss are all expected to attend.
Auchincloss told WCVB’s “On The Record” it is an important part of the democratic process for him to attend the inauguration.
“I think each of my colleagues is going to pursue their conscience,” Auchincloss said. “Mine tells me that win or lose, what’s most important in the United States and for the sustainment of our democracy, is that we play the rules of the game.”
When Trump takes the oath of office at noon, he will realize a political comeback without precedent in American history. Four years ago, he was voted out of the White House during an economic collapse caused by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Trump denied his defeat and tried to cling to power. He directed his supporters to march on the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying the election results, sparking a riot that interrupted the country’s tradition of the peaceful transfer of power.
But Trump never lost his grip on the Republican Party and was undeterred by criminal cases and two assassination attempts as he steamrolled rivals and harnessed voters’ exasperation with inflation and illegal immigration.
Trump will be the first person convicted of a felony — for falsifying business records related to hush money payments — to serve as president. He will pledge to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution from the same spot that was overrun by his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. He’s said that one of his first acts in office will be to pardon many of those who participated in the riot.
Eight years after he first entered the White House as a political newcomer, Trump is far more familiar with the operations of federal government and emboldened to bend it to his vision. Trump wants to bring quick change by curtailing immigration, enacting tariffs on imports and rolling back Democrats’ climate and social initiatives.
He has also promised retribution against his political opponents and critics, and placed personal loyalty as a prime qualification for appointments to his administration.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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